Weigel Reflects on John Paul II’s Legacy

Christendom College Head Notes Great Moment for the Church

ROME, MARCH 15, 2011 (Zenit.org).- George Weigel is underlining the legacy of John Paul II, noting that the Pope’s achievements were rooted in decisions of his youth.The author of “Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II” and “The End and the Beginning” gave an address on March 7 at the Rome campus of Christendom College. The lecture was titled “The Achievements of Blessed John Paul II.”

Weigel said to the students, “The achievement of John Paul II flowed from decisions he made when he was your age.”

“All of you have grown up in a culture that constantly panders to the young people,” he said.

Weigel added that John Paul II, in contrast, “did not pander to them.”

The author continued: “He told you that you were capable — through the grace of God — of great things, and he said to never settle for anything less than the spiritual and moral greatness that the grace of God makes possible.

“Young people responded to that by the millions, as I hope you will too — particularly through this special time in Rome.”

He recalled how Karol Wojtyla attended a clandestine seminary run by Archbishop Adamo Sapieha while the Nazis occupied Poland.

Weigel noted, “In that experience was formed a heroic image of the priest and bishop as a defender of the rights of the human person in this very talented young man who would become John Paul II.”

Timothy O’Donnell, president of Christendom College, affirmed after the address, “Along with the rest of the world, we look forward to the beatification of Pope John Paul II.

He added, “This talk definitely helped our students enter into this great moment in the Church.”